Tommy Lister Jr.

Acting career Lister was mostly recognized as the antagonist known as Deebo from 1995's Friday. and in season 1 episode 15 of ER. He also starred in the sitcom 1st & Ten as Otis.

Lister's film roles included playing in The Dark Knight He appeared in the Adam Sandler film Little Nicky as Nicky's older brother Cassius. he played bail agent Winston, who "finds people who don't want to be found". In 2015, Lister filmed Busy Day in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lister had a supporting role in the 2016 Disney animated movie Zootopia as the voice of the diminutive fennec fox, Finnick.

In the 40 years of his acting career, Lister accumulated more than 200 acting credits.

Cast as a habitual "bad guy" in films, his career prospered. He was a frequent collaborator with Ice Cube. Lister later became the spokesperson for Monster Energy Drink in the 2010s.

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Federation (1989–1990) Lister appeared in the 1989 wrestling movie No Holds Barred, Following SummerSlam, Zeus formed an alliance with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase leading into that year's Survivor Series.

At the event, the team of The Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Demolition) faced The Million Dollar Team (Ted DiBiase, Zeus, and The Powers of Pain). Zeus was eliminated from the match via disqualification after refusing to break a chokehold on Hogan and shoving the referee away. After the Survivor Series, the feud between Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake versus Randy Savage and Zeus ended with a steel cage match on December 27, 1989, at the No Holds Barred pay-per-view event. Hogan and Beefcake were once again victorious in what would be Zeus's last match in the WWF. Lister's final WWF appearance was a promotional spot for the 1990 Royal Rumble.

World Wrestling Council (1990) On July 7, 1990, Zeus fought Abdullah the Butcher in a double countout at a World Wrestling Council 1990 WWC Aniversario show in Puerto Rico.

World Championship Wrestling (1996) Lister spent March 1996 in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as Z-Gangsta, as part of The Alliance to End Hulkamania, culminating in failure at Uncensored. He debuted the previous week with fellow actor/wrestler Robert Swenson, who was billed as The Ultimate Solution.

The athletic department of Lister's alma mater Cal State LA sponsors an annual track meet in his name.

In 2016, he was nominated for the "Best Bad Mu#&a Award" at the All Def Movie Awards. In 2014 at the Orlando Urban Film Festival, he won "Best Star Spotlight" for his performance in No Weapon Formed Against Us.

Personal life

Marriage He was married to Felicia Forbes in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2003; they have one daughter named Faith Grace Lister.

Legal issues On August 31, 2012, Lister agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to commit mortgage fraud, in a scheme that led to $3.8 million in losses. In April 2014, he was out on bail and was confident of avoiding prison. He stated, "What's so cool about God and our government is that you can make a mistake and they will forgive you if you just a good person and doing right." He became ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19 a second time in early December, exhibiting weakness and trouble breathing, which forced him to cancel shooting for a film. His manager Cindy McGowen, who said it was not normal for him to miss filmings, became concerned and sent her assistant to his house to give him vitamins and antibiotics.

Death On December 10, 2020, police performing a wellness check found Lister dead in his home in Marina del Rey, California; he was 62 years old. The coroner's office investigated his cause of death and the final autopsy report revealed that the cause of death was hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

In a Twitter encomium, Ice Cube recalled Lister's sense of humor: "RIP Tiny 'Deebo' Lister. America's favorite bully was a born entertainer who would pop into character at the drop of a hat terrifying people on and off camera. Followed by a big smile and laugh ... Thank you for being a good dude at heart. I miss you already."

Championships and accomplishments Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #500 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1985 1986 Nose Guard Blue City Armed and Dangerous Bruno Wired to Kill 1987 Extreme Prejudice Monday Beverly Hills Cop II Orvis Prison 1988 The Night Before 1989 No Holds Barred Zeus Homer and Eddie Man in Bar with Gun Midnight Security Guard 1990 Think Big Secret Agent 00 Soul 1991 9 1⁄2 Ninjas! Cutter Trabbi Goes to Hollywood Talkin' Dirty After Dark Bigg 1992 Universal Soldier GR86 Trespass Cletus 1993 Posse Obobo The Meteor Man 1994 Immortal Combat Yanagi Men of War Blades Don Juan DeMarco Rocco Compton 1995 Hologram Man Friday Deebo Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead The Kangaroo Sadran 1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Tyrone Barb Wire Bouncer Phat Beach White Cargo Zeno Street Corner Justice Angel Aikens 1997 The Good Bad Guy Mobster #2 The Fifth Element President Lindberg Below Utopia Gang Related Hoover Park Jackie Brown Winston A Time to Revenge Corporal Hollis 1998 The Players Club I Got the Hook-Up Butter 1999 Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies Tillaver Judgment Day Brother Clarence Stealth Fighter Berg Shark in a Bottle The Recruiter 2000 Next Friday Deebo Circus Little Nicky Cassius The Cheapest Movie Ever Made Kevin 2001 The Duo Tiny Lister, Jr. Vegas, City of Dreams Llord's Security Chief Out Kold Soulkeeper Chad The Wash 2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Prisoner #2 2003 Confidence Harlin Keepin' It Real Love Chronicles Alfonso Hellborn 2004 My Baby's Daddy Never Die Alone Knocked the "F" Out A Night in Compton Dracula 3000 Slammed Bubba El Padrino Hair Show Agent Little Blast Smiley Full Clip Bumaye Choices 2 2005 County General Santa's Slay 2006 Forbidden Fruits Jade One Night with the King Hagai Who Made the Potatoe Salad? 2007 The Still Life Art Buyer Da Block Party 2 C.J.'s Father Vegas Vampires Andrew Johnson Ascension Day Will The Pink Conspiracy The Grand German's Bodyguard Bone Dry Mitch Lady Samurai 2008 The Hustle Dog Thief Terra Nova Sewing Dude The Dark Knight Tattooed Prisoner 2009 Block Party Madness Unemployed The Rimshop Duncan Miss B's Hair Salon Mr. Biggs Super Capers Sarge Holy Water SixPac Jordan 2010 First Dog Big Mike The Lazarus Papers Tiny Delaney Lean Like a Cholo Crazy Loc Food Stamps Reggie The Mail Man 2011 The Sixth Priest Hopelessly in June Pastor G The Trap Door Jomo Cornered Captain Williams The Preacher's Family Jackson Hines 2012 Noah Roaring Giant We the Party No Shame 72 Hours with Empire Deebo Beyond the Trophy Billy Thomas Hillbilly Highway Wilbert K-11 Detroit Heaven's Door Ben Wilson Silent No More Blake 2013 White T Mad Rapper Comedy of Errorz 2014 Engage the Vision Deebo Vultures in the Void Space Clown 2015 Tiny and the Optometrist Himself American Justice Justice The Amazing Wizard of Paws Diner Manager The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) Inmate 178 The Whole World at Our Feet Louie Tamales and Gumbo Uncle Mark Death's Door Jomo If I Tell You I Have to Kill You Gabriel No Weapon Formed Against Us Jackson Hines 2016 Woman Scorned Brandon Zootopia Finnick Hickey Henry Beyond the Game Ezra Of Sentimental Value Tee Hauntsville Kaine 2017 2016 Rondo Boone: The Bounty Hunter Man in TV Show Busy Day Johnny Burns 2018 Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece Superfly 2019 Slasher Party Smiley Face I Got the Hook Up 2 T-Lay 2020 She's the One Carjacker Hell Hole Martin 2021 Domino: Battle of the Bones Twelvespeed Welcome to Our World Reggie The Mail Man Money Is King Detective Willams 2022 The Allnighter Preston Renegades Apollo 2025 Zootopia 2 Finnick Final film roleDedicated in memoryCameo

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Webster Football Player Episode: "You Can't Go Home Again" 1984–1987 1st & Ten Otis Recurring cast: season 1 & 4 1986–1989 Matlock 1987 Perfect Strangers Leroy Episode: "Hello, Elaine" Warm Hearts, Cold Feet Television film Glory Years Tony Television film 1989 Hard Time on Planet Earth John Henry Episode: "The Hot Dog Man" Chameleons Luther Television film CBS Summer Playhouse Episode: "B-Men" 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Episode: "72 Hours" 1992 The Boys Bodybuilder Television film 1993 Renegade Marvin Montgomery Episode: "The Champ" Walker, Texas Ranger Hicks Episode: "Storm Warning" In the Heat of the Night Tommy 'T.K.' Kendricks Episode: "Every Man's Family" 1995 ER Patient Episode: "Feb 5, '95" Step by Step Security Guard Episode: "Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?" The Parent 'Hood Leroy Moland Episode: "The Bully Pulpit" Martin Apollo Episode: "Housekeeper From Hell" The Set-Up Leon 1996 NYPD Blue Bob Episode: "Burnin' Love" WCW Monday Nitro Episode: "Sullivan's Secret Weapons" Moesha Security Guard #2 Episode: "A Concerted Effort: Part 1" 1997 Malcolm & Eddie Zeus Episode: "Lockdown" In the House Mono Episode: "Dial 'M' for Marion" The Jamie Foxx Show Adam Episode: "I Do, I Didn't" Sparks Larry Episode: "Won't You Be My Neighbor" L.A. Heat A.K. Episode: "Rap Sheet" USA High Tony Episode: "Mr. Tiffani" 1998 Damon Alfonse Episode: "My Brother's So-Called Life" 1999 Supreme Sanction Lester Television film 2001 Nash Bridges Mr. Switch Episode: "Blood Bots" & "Cat Fight" Enterprise Klaang Episode: "Broken Bow" 2005 All of Us Bandito Episode: "Creeping with the Enemy" The Rev Television film 2007 Saul of the Mole Men John Henry Recurring cast 2008 Under One Roof Punkin Episode: "Release Therapy" Chocolate News Otis 'Lighting' Jones Episode: "Episode #1.8" 2009 Nite Tales: The Series Wrestler Episode: "Trapped" Monster Ark Sergeant Major Gentry Television film 2010 Laugh Track Mash-ups Mr. Oppenheimer Episode: "Ralphie n' Me" 2010–2013 Fish Hooks Mr. Mussels Recurring cast10 episodes 2011 Regular Show Bobby Episode: "My Mom" & "See You There" 2012 FCU: Fact Checkers Unit Tiny Episode: "James Franco Is Preggers" Key & Peele Driver Episode: "Episode #2.7" Tiny Is My Girl Sophie Main cast 2013 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Dallas Episode: "TGI Murder" The Rev Tiny Starr Main cast 2014 The Boondocks Filbert Slowlove Episode: "The New Black" Taylor'd Problems Big T Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" Johnny Dynamo Mo Lotto 2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Major Aikens Episode: "Simon Helberg Wears a Sky Blue Button Down Jeans" Mann and Wife Lieutenant Marshall Main cast: season 1 On the Court King Cain Recurring cast Da Jammies (voice) Episode: "Will the Real Dolla..." & "3:10"

Music videos Year Title Role Artist 1986 "Man Size Love" Klymaxx 1989 "Happy" The Boys 1992 "Remember the Time" Michael Jackson 1995 "Friday" Ice Cube 1996 "Santeria" Sublime 1997 "Party Ain't A Party" Queen Pen "Luv 2 Luv Ya" Timbaland & Magoo 1999 "You Can Do It" Ice Cube 2003 "Many Men (Wish Death)" 50 Cent 2006 "Ridin'" Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone 2007 "Put your Locs on" Down AKA Kilo 2011 "" Iggy Azalea 2012 "" Falling In Reverse "Show Love" Police Officer Chamillionaire feat. D.A. 2013 "" Akon 2014 "Touchdown (Remix)" O.T. Genasis feat. Busta Rhymes and French Montana 2020 ""

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2005 50 Cent: Bulletproof 2006 Scarface: The World Is Yours 2023 WWE 2K23 Zeus